What is fostering? You provide temporary shelter
and love for a homeless dog/cat while a forever home is being
found.
What is the need?The need is ongoing. Homeless
animals cannot be rescued by ART without your help.
Where do we get our dogs/cats? ART animals
may be strays, owner surrenders, or transfers from local animal
shelters.
How long do I foster? A
foster animal may spend as little as one week, or as long as
six months, in his/her foster home.
Do I pay expenses? Foster
homes are not required to cover any expenses involved in caring
for the animal. The
expenses are covered by an ART member who serves as the animal’s
financial sponsor.
What if I go on vacation? With
prior notice, the ART sponsor will secure a temporary foster
home, or board the animal, while you are away.
What
if the foster animal doesn’t get along with
my pets? We hope that foster homes will give
the rescue animal time to settle in and adjust before deciding
things won’t work out. If things don’t settle
down, the animal will be moved to another foster home. Please
note that we do ask for at least a few days to make other
arrangements.
What if the foster has behavioral issues?A
behaviorist will work with you and the animal, or the animal
may be moved if you are not comfortable working with the situation.
What if I want to adopt?Many
people foster to find the animal that best fits their family
and lifestyle before adopting. Please note that foster homes wishing
to adopt are asked to go through ART’s standard adoption
procedure.
What are the requirements to foster? We
prefer that your resident pets be altered and up to date on shots
(including monthly heartworm preventive for dogs). The
number of animals in your home (resident and fostered) may
not exceed city code, and if you rent, we must see written
proof of permission from your landlord to have pets in your
home.
Fostered dogs
may not be left outside while you work (a crate will be provided
if necessary). Requirement of a fence
is determined by the dog needing a foster home. Dog fosters
should not be gone for more than the normal 8-hour work day.
For cat and
kitten foster homes, it is best if you have a separate room for
your foster/s until you know they are able to be with
your animals.
How
do I get involved with the program?Fill
out the foster application,
or contact one of the following people for more information:
Cats and Kittens:
Rose Baker, wbaker1@prodigy.net,
428-5542
Deborah
Tyler, dktyler@aol.com,
430-6416
Dogs and Puppies:
Susan Corbitt, caring4paws@cox.net,
424-1653
Someone will
follow-up with you within 48 hours. If your
application is initially approved, we will then visit your
home to discuss your concerns and help us determine which rescue
is most compatible with your situation.
Foster
homes are critical to ART’s success
in helping animals in need. Thank you for your interest
in donating your time to help us achieve our goal of “no
more homeless pets”!
If
you would like to apply to foster for ART, please continue
to our foster application Please
note this application was designed to help us know more
about you and your situation so we can make the best match
possible between foster home and foster animal. Once you have
been accepted as a foster home, you can decide when you’re
ready to begin, and can arrange to meet the animal in
need prior to deciding if will foster.
Fostering
Homeless Animals